Variable capacity vane pump



June 1949- 'r. J. THATCHER VARIABLE CAPACITY VANE PUMP Filed Feb. 19,1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 THOMAS J. THATCHER,

June ,-1 T. J. THATCHER I VARIAELE CAPACITY VAkE PUMP THO MAS J.THATCHERL %%ww;nama &maau

Filed Feb. 19, 1946 ATTORNEYS.

Patented June 21, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Clairns.

This invention relates to fluid transmissions, and more particularly toan apparatus for the pumping and circulation of fluid.

A primary object of this invention is the provision of an improvedapparatus for the circulation of fluid for any desired purpose, such asa pump, or for motive power, or for other usages.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of such a devicehaving means whereby the quantity, and hence the eflective pressure ofthe fluid circulated may be readily varied as desired.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of such adevice characterized by a pair of arcuate, substantially semi-circu1arshoes constituting an interior housing, surrounding a rotor, andprovided with means whereby the spacing of such shoes from the rotor maybe readily varied to effect an adjustable flow of fluid as desired,

Still a further object of the invention is the provision of such adevice, whereby upon appropriate adjustment of the shoes constitutingsaid interior housing, the device may be rendered inoperative, orneutral.

Still other objects reside in the provision of such a device which issturdy and durable in construction, reliable and efiicient in operation,and relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture and assemble.

Further objects reside in the combinations of elements, arrangements ofparts, and features of construction, all as will be more fully pointedout hereinafter and disclosed in the accompanying drawing, wherein thereis shown a preferred embodiment of this inventive concept.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side view, partially in elevation and partially insection, certain portions thereof being broken away, disclosing oneembodiment of this inventive concept.

Figure 2 is a sectional View, taken substantially along the center lineof Figure 1, certain portions thereof being broken away to show certaininterior mechanism.

Figure 3 is a reduced partially schematic sectional view disclosing theoperative relation of certain parts of the mechanism showing the pumpparts in position for maximum pumping capacity;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 ofFigure 1, as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Figure 5 is a cross-section taken substantially on the line 5-5 ofFigure 2 and substantially perpendicular to the axis of pump rotation,showing the pump parts in neutral or non-pumping condition;

Figure 6 is a cross-section similar to Figure 5 showing the parts inposition for maximum pumping capacity; and

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 3 but showing the parts in neutralor closed position as in Figure 5.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views of the drawing.

Having reference now to the drawings, the device of the instantinvention is comprised of an outer casing generally indicated at H), andof substantially cylindrical shape, which may include a receptacleportion H closed, as by a base plate l 2 secured in position, as by aplurality of screws :3. The receptacle I0 is provided with centrallypositioned external bosses I4 on opposite sides thereof, within whichare positioned packing rings I5 held in position, as by packing nuts 16,the latter being centrally apertured to accommodate a drive shaft ll.Bearings 58 are also provided for the purpose of journaling the rotationof the shaft H, which, it may be here pointed out, is adapted to berotated by any suitable source of power.

The shaft H has suitably affixed thereto for rotation therewith a rotor20 cut away, as at 2|, on its opposite faces, and provided with channelsor grooves 22 to accommodate sealing rings 23, the purpose of which willbe more fully pointed out hereinafter.

Suitable recesses peripherally positioned at spaced points about therotor 26 accommodate vanes 25 pivotally secured, as by pivots 25 andspring biased outwardly, as by springs 21 seated in recesses 28. In theillustrative embodiment shown three of the vanes 25 are disclosed, butit will be readily understood that any desired number may be provided inaccordance with the use to which the mechanism is to be put.

Positioned peripherally about the rotor 26 and within the outer housingit is an inner housing comprising two pivotally-mountedsubstantiallysemi-circular shoes, generally indicated at 30 providedwith semi-circular central apertures 3|, and adapted, when moved intojuxtaposition with the rotor, as illustrated in Figure 5 and more fullydescribed hereinafter, to closely surround the same. Each of the shoes30 is of channelshaped cross-section, and includes spaced apart, radialside flanges 32 provided with grooves 33, which accommodate the outerportions of the sealing rings 23, thus effecting a relatively fluidtightseal between the rotor and the inner housing shoes 30.

Fluid inlet means are provided in the housing H] and take the form ofextending bosses 35 provided with ball check valves 36 spring pressed,as by springs 31, and provided with bores 38 seating the valves 36 incommunication with passageways 39 which extend to inlet ports 40 incommunication with the interior of the inner housing shoes 39.

The passageways 39 extend through interiorly positioned projectingportions 4| of the housing III, which portions together with flanges 32positioned on each of the shoes 30 form a dove-tail joint for thealignment of the shoes 30 and their pivotal movement in a manner to bemore fully described hereinafter. Outlet pipes 45 extending through theprojections 4| and shoes 39 serve as pivots for pivotally mounting theshoes 30' in the housing. Each outlet pipe :35 is provided with acentrally positioned aperture 46 in communication with the interior ofthe housing 33, and from which a passageway 41 extends to a ball valve58 spring pressed, as by a spring 49, and seated in a boss 59 exteriorlyof the housing 1 ii.

The ends of the pipes 45 opposite the bosses 58 are suitably seated ininteriorly positioned bosses i and drainage plugs 52 are provided at theouter ends of the outlet 45.

Referring now particularly to Figures 3, 5, 6 and 7, it will be seenthat each of the shoes 30 is pivoted at one extremity to the housing bya respective outlet pipe 45, and that separation of the shoes, in amanner to be more fully hereinafter described, will space certain pointsof their centrally positioned concavities at a greater distance from theperiphery of rotor Zil than others (see Figures 5 and 6). It will alsobe seen that the points spaced most closely to the rotor 2G will Thus,it will be seen that when the shoes 35 are positioned in close relationto the rotor 20, the vanes 25 will be held in their associated recessesand substantially no circulation of fluid permitted. A very small amountof fluid for lubricating and cooling purposes may be permitted even whenthe shoes are in the closed or neutral position shown in Figure 5. Asthe shoes are moved outwardly to the position shown in Figure 6, forexample, fluid will be admitted through the inlet port and swept by thevanes through a substantially semi-circular path to the outlet,centrifugal force and the pressure of the springs 2'! serving to holdthe vanes closely against the inner surfaces of the shoes.

Means are provided for adjusting the shoes 30 in the manner describedand take the form of links 56, each pivotally secured at one end, as ona pivot pin 5?, to one of the shoes 30 at a point substantiallydiametrically opposite the pivot point comprised of the outlet pipe 45.The opposite end of each link 56 is secured, as by a pivot 58, to acircular member 59 provided with gear teeth 50. The gear teeth 60 meshwith the teeth 6| of a cog gear 62 mounted on a shaft 63 which extendsthrough a suitable boss 64 in the outer housing Ill and terminates in anadjusting knob 65.

It will thus be seen that rotation of the knob 65 through the gear teeth6| and 60 serves to rotate the member 59 and thus through the links 56vary the relative position of the shoes 30' with respect to the centralmember 59 and correspondingly Vary the spacing thereof with respect tothe rotor 20.

It will be readily apparent that as the spacing of the shoes 30 isvaried, the quantity of fluid forced through the pump by the vanes 25will also be varied, and accordingly the pressure exerted by the device.

It is to be noted that the check valves in the inlet and outlet meansfor the device serve to preclude the circulation of fluid until suchtime as sufficient pressure is built up in the apparatus to freelycirculate the fluid as desired.

From the foregoing it will now be seen that there is herein provided animproved fluid circulating device which accomplishes all the objects ofthis invention, and others, including many advantages of great practicalutility and commercial importance.

As various embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, and asvarious modifications may be made in the embodiment hereinbefore shownand described, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to beinterpreted merely as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A fluid pump comprising a housing providing an annular receptacle, ashaft journaled in said housing, a rotor on said shaft within saidhousing receptacle, said rotor having angularly spaced recesses in theouter portion thereof, vanes carried by said rotor and pivotallymounted, one in each of said recesses, a pair of interiorly-concave,arcuate shoes in said housing receiving the outer portion of said rotor,a pair of fluid outlet pipes disposed at opposite sides of said rotor,each pivotally connecting an end of a respective arcuate shoe to saidhousing, means operatively connected with said shoes and operated fromoutside said housing for moving said shoes toward and away from saidrotor, means providing fluid inlet and outlet passages for the spacesbetween said shoes and said rotor, and means providing a seal betweeneach side of said rotor and said shoes.

2. A fluid pump comprising a housing providing an annular receptacle, ashaft journaled in said housing, a rotor on said shaft having angularlyspaced recesses therein, vanes carried by said rotor pivotally mounted,one in each of said recesses, a pair of interiorly-concave, arcuateshoes in said housing receiving the outer portion of said rotor, meanspivotally securing one end of each of said shoes to said housing formovement of said shoes toward and away from said rotor, a gear wheelrotatably mounted in said housing adjacent said shoes, means operativelyconnecting said gear wheel'with said shoes for movement of said shoestoward and away from said rotor upon rotation of said gear wheel, gearmeans meshing with said gear wheel and rotated from outside said housingto rotate said gear wheel, means providing fluid inlet and outletpassages for the spaces between said shoes and said rotor, and meansproviding a seal between each side of said rotor and said shoes.

3. A fluid pump comprising a housing providing an. annular receptacle,-a shaft journaled in said housing, a rotor on said shaft within saidhousing receptacle, said rotor having angularly spaced recesses in theouter, portion thereof vanes carried by said rotor and pivotallymounted, one in each of said recesses, a pair of internally-concavearcuate shoes in said housing re-,

ceiving the outer portion of said rotor, means pivotally securing oneend of each of said shoes to said housing for movement of said shoestoward and away from said rotor, means operatively connected with saidshoes and operated from outside said housing for moving said shoestoward and away from said rotor, means providing fluid inlet and outletpassages for the spaces between said shoes and said rotor, said rotorand said shoes having complementary annuar grooves in the opposite sideportions thereof, and a pair of sealing rings seated in said grooves anddisposed one at each side of said rotor to provide fluid seals betweensaid rotor and said movable shoes.

THOMAS J. THATCHER.

6 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

